DGA Honoree: William Brady

Robert B. Aldrich Award

William Brady began his professional career in the CBS mailroom, but the Queens native rose quickly through the ranks to become recognized as one of the best helmers in the news biz.

With his industry undergoing major changes, the Aldrich Award honoree for extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership shares his philosophy on how to keep up with the times.

“Television direction is a live world,” Brady says. “Especially in news, it’s like being a pizza maker: Customers want the pizza fast, hot and good. Television news to a great degree is that. The only thing worse than day-old pizza is hour-old news.”

Although he has a track record of hard work in the industry, Brady attributes much of his success to his life away from the studios.

“I’m married,” Brady says. “I’ve got four kids (including triplets). … You can’t be surprised about anything, and flexibility and attention to matters is really important. In a way, television becomes an easy part of your day when you have to deal with the circus of dealing with four kids.”